Weekend flooding of river in Montellano; road closed

[vermontmark]

On Saturday we were returning from east end of island to the PP area, along the coast. Because of the heavy rains the detour road in Montellano was closed due to high water. We eventually decided to take the long way around (over the mountain to Santiago, and back on the parallel mountain road), since the flooding was apparently bad. Does anyone have details of what exactly happened and road closure duration?

 

[chico bill]

On Saturday we were returning from east end of island to the PP area, along the coast. Because of the heavy rains the detour road in Montellano was closed due to high water. We eventually decided to take the long way around (over the mountain to Santiago, and back on the parallel mountain road), since the flooding was apparently bad. Does anyone have details of what exactly happened and road closure duration?

This should go to the Cangrejo Bridge thread

 

[Auryn]

On Saturday we were returning from east end of island to the PP area, along the coast. Because of the heavy rains the detour road in Montellano was closed due to high water. We eventually decided to take the long way around (over the mountain to Santiago, and back on the parallel mountain road), since the flooding was apparently bad. Does anyone have details of what exactly happened and road closure duration?

The little bridge (that isn’t actually a bridge- as was clarified on the Cangrejo thread) got washed out/clogged. So the water was gushing over the top and took out the guard rails.
I was in Puerto Plata heading west at the time. I walked down and took a video around 5:00pm, shortly after it was impossible to cross. Lots of people were talking about going around through Santiago because it looked like the whole thing might give out. It was reopened shortly after 7 pm.

With no end in site for Cangrejo, I will not be travelling toward Puerto Plata during a heavy rainfall again. Unless it’s earlier in the day and the Santiago detour is more feasible for me.

 

[windeguy]

Correct, Auryn, it is just a low spot in the bypass road that is flooding during the rains. Near a small stream that is overflowing.

 

[JD Jones]

Talk about feast or famine...

 

[cavok]

If it's raining in Montellano like it is here in Cabarete right now, that detour will be closed again due to flooding.

 

[chico bill]

They have been working to upgrade the crossing for 3 days now - Let's see if they will solve the flooding problem.
The Magic 8 Ball says "Not Likely"

 

[NanSanPedro]

So if you're in Sosua and want to get points west, would you have to go thru Caberete --> Jamao -->Moca --> Santiago -->and then go north from Santiago? Is that the best way if the Montellano bypass doesn't work?

 

[JD Jones]

So is this the detour now?

 

[cavok]

So if you're in Sosua and want to get points west, would you have to go thru Caberete --> Jamao -->Moca --> Santiago -->and then go north from Santiago? Is that the best way if the Montellano bypass doesn't work?

Yep, that's it. You're looking at probably a 4-hour drive.

 

[M4kintosh]

So is this the detour now?
View attachment 7756

No, this is the current detour now.
The image you show @JD Jones was the first attemp to cross using the aqueduct road (which isn't paved at all)
It's all with signs around the road and in some occasions, road splits.

So if you're in Sosua and want to get points west, would you have to go thru Caberete --> Jamao -->Moca --> Santiago -->and then go north from Santiago? Is that the best way if the Montellano bypass doesn't work?

Yep. The "Moca Road" aka DR21 is the best option when floodings in Montellano-Cangrejo happen. Sadly it's still being expanded and hasn't been finished, but it's faster these days compared to crossing the temporary bypass via Cangrejo.

 

[M4kintosh]

So is this the detour now?
View attachment 7756

The image you show @JD Jones was the first attemp to cross using the aqueduct road (which isn't properly paved and not suited for cars, mostly)
Detour signs start around the first main Montellano entrance (coming from POP) and at Cangrejo (coming from Sosúa) road splits. It cross inside Montellano.